Technology
VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY LAUNCHES CASH TENDER OFFERS FOR U.S. DOLLAR NOTES DUE 2025 AND 2028
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2 weeks agoon
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NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON RESIDENT AND/OR LOCATED IN, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IS UNLAWFUL
NEWBURY, England, Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodafone” or the “Company”) announces the launch of its offers to purchase for cash in two concurrent, but separate offers, any and all of its outstanding (i) 4.125% Notes due May 2025 (the “Fixed Price Notes”), of which $734,128,000 is outstanding, and (ii) 4.375% Notes due May 2028 (the “Fixed Spread Notes” and, together with the Fixed Price Notes, the “Notes”), of which $575,122,000 is outstanding, upon the terms of, and subject to the conditions in, the offer to purchase dated February 5, 2025 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and the accompanying notice of guaranteed delivery (the “Notice of Guaranteed Delivery” and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the “Tender Offer Documents”).
Each offer to purchase each series of Notes is referred to herein as an “Offer” and the offers to purchase the Notes as the “Offers.” Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in this announcement have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Offer to Purchase.
Holders are advised to read carefully the Tender Offer Documents for full details of, and information on the procedures for participating in, the Offers. All documentation relating to the Offers, including the Tender Offer Documents, together with any updates, are available at the following website: https://deals.is.kroll.com/vodafone-usd.
The following tables set forth certain terms of the Offers:
Title of Security
CUSIP / ISIN
Outstanding
Principal
Amount
Reference U.S.
Treasury Security
Bloomberg
Reference Page(1)
Fixed Spread
(basis points)
Fixed Price(2)
4.125% Notes due May
2025
92857WBJ8 /
US92857WBJ80
$734,128,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
$1,000
4.375% Notes due May
2028
92857WBK5/
US92857WBK53
$575,122,000
4.25% U.S.
Treasury due
January 15, 2028
FIT1
20
N/A
(1) The page on Bloomberg from which the Dealer Managers will quote the bid-side price of the applicable Reference U.S. Treasury Security.
(2) Per $1,000 in principal amount of Fixed Price Notes (as defined below) validly tendered and accepted for purchase.
All Notes accepted in the Offers will be cancelled and retired by the Company.
Purpose of the Offers
The Offers, the Concurrent Non-U.S. Tender Offers (as defined below) and the 2025 Notes Redemption (as defined below) are being undertaken to, among other things, proactively manage the Company’s outstanding debt portfolio, with a focus on the Company’s near-dated maturities.
Concurrent Non-U.S. Tender Offers
Concurrently with the launch of the Offers, the Company has commenced cash tender offers for any and all of its outstanding €1,000,000,000 1.875% Notes due 2025, €1,000,000,000 1.125% Notes due 2025, €1,750,000,000 2.200% Notes due 2026, €750,000,000 0.900% Notes due 2026, €500,000,000 1.50% Notes due 2027, £250,000,000 5.625% Notes due 2025, CHF 175,000,000 0.625% Notes due 2027, AUD 450,000,000 4.200% Notes due 2027, NOK 850,000,000 3.215% Notes due 2025, NOK 850,000,000 3.115% Notes due 2027, NOK 500,000,000 2.925% Notes due 2027, HKD 455,000,000 2.850% Notes due 2027 and HKD 1,115,000,000 2.640% Notes due 2027 (the “Concurrent Non-U.S. Tender Offers”).
The Concurrent Non-U.S. Tender Offers are not being made, and will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933).
2025 Notes Redemption
Concurrently with the launch of the Offers, the Company is issuing a notice of redemption in respect of any Fixed Price Notes not purchased by the Company in the Offers (the “2025 Notes Redemption”), at a price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, if any, and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such Notes (excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the sum of (i) the adjusted treasury rate (as defined in the prospectus supplement dated May 23, 2018 relating to the Fixed Price Notes) plus (ii) 20 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
Purchase Price Consideration
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Tender Offer Documents, Holders of the Notes who validly tender and do not validly withdraw the Notes at or prior to the Expiration Time or the Guaranteed Delivery Date pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures, and whose Notes are accepted for purchase by the Company, will receive the Purchase Price Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which will be payable in cash.
The Purchase Price Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Fixed Price Notes validly tendered, not validly withdrawn, and accepted by us pursuant to the relevant Offer will be the Fixed Price specified in the table above.
The Purchase Price Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Fixed Spread Notes validly tendered, not validly withdrawn, and accepted by us pursuant to the relevant Offer will be calculated at the Price Determination Time and will be determined in accordance with standard market practice, as described below, using the sum of (such sum, the “Offer Yield”):
(i) the reference yield, as calculated by the Dealer Managers in accordance with standard market practice, that corresponds to the bid-side price of the Reference U.S. Treasury Security in the table above for the Notes appearing at the Price Determination Time on the Bloomberg Reference Page specified in the table above for the Notes (or any other recognized quotation source selected by Vodafone in consultation with the Dealer Managers if such quotation report is not available or manifestly erroneous) (such reference yield, the “Reference Yield”), plus
(ii) the Fixed Spread specified in the table above.
Subject to the terms and conditions described in the Tender Offer Documents, the Price Consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of the Fixed Spread Notes accepted by us pursuant to the relevant Offer will be determined in accordance with standard market practice as described by the formula set forth in Annex A-1 to the Offer to Purchase, and will equal (i) the present value on the Settlement Date of $1,000 principal amount of such Notes due on the scheduled maturity date of such Notes and all scheduled interest payments on such Notes to be made from (but excluding) the Settlement Date up to (and including) such scheduled maturity date, discounted to the Settlement Date at a discount rate equal to the Offer Yield, minus (ii) the Accrued Interest per $1,000 principal amount of the Fixed Spread Notes; with the total amount being rounded to the nearest cent per $1,000 principal amount of such Notes.
Vodafone will issue a press release specifying the Purchase Price Consideration for the Fixed Spread Notes as soon as reasonably practicable after the determination thereof by the Dealer Managers.
Accrued Interest
In addition to the Purchase Price Consideration, Holders whose Notes are accepted for purchase will be paid the Accrued Interest thereon. Interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted in the Offers. For avoidance of doubt, interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted in the Offers, including Notes that are delivered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. All Notes accepted in the Offers will be canceled and retired by Vodafone.
Key Dates, Offer Period and Results
Holders of the Notes should note the following dates relating to the Offers:
Date
Calendar Date
Launch Date
February 5, 2025.
Price Determination Time
At or around 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on February 11, 2025, unless
extended or earlier terminated by the Company in its sole and absolute
discretion, subject to applicable law.
Withdrawal Deadline
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 11, 2025, unless extended or
earlier terminated by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, subject
to applicable law.
Expiration Time
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 11, 2025, unless extended or
earlier terminated by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, subject
to applicable law.
Results Announcement Date
The first business day after Expiration Time, February 12, 2025.
Guaranteed Delivery Date
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 12, 2025.
Settlement Date
In respect of accepted Notes that are delivered at or prior to the Expiration
Time, the Company expects the Settlement Date to occur on the third
business day after the Expiration Time, February 14, 2025.
Guaranteed Delivery
Settlement Date
In respect of accepted Notes that are delivered pursuant to the Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures, the Company expects the Guaranteed Delivery
Settlement Date to occur on the second business day after the Guaranteed
Delivery Date, February 14, 2025.
The deadlines set by any intermediary and The Depository Trust Company (“DTC) for participation in the Offers may be earlier than the relevant deadline specified above. The acceptance of Notes for purchase is conditional on the satisfaction of the conditions of the Offers as provided in “Description of the Offers—Conditions to the Offers” in the Offer to Purchase.
The Company has retained Merrill Lynch International and Barclays Capital Inc. as Dealer Managers and Kroll Issuer Services Limited as Tender and Information Agent (the “Tender and Information Agent”) for the purposes of the Offers.
Questions regarding procedures for tendering Notes may be directed to the Tender and Information Agent at +44 20 7704 0880 (London) or by email to vodafone-usd@is.kroll.com, Attention: Owen Morris. Questions regarding the Offers may be directed to Merrill Lynch International at +1 (888) 292-0070 (toll free), +1 (980) 387-3907 or +44 207 996 5420 (in London) or by email to DG.LM-EMEA@bofa.com and to Barclays Capital Inc. at +1 (800) 438-3242 (toll free), +1 (212) 528-7581 or +44 203 134 8515 (in London) or by email to us.lm@barclays.com.
This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy, or a solicitation of an offer to sell, any security. No offer, solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Offers are only being made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. Holders of the Notes are urged to carefully read the Offer to Purchase before making any decision with respect to the Offers.
The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by each of the Company, the Dealer Managers and the Tender and Information Agent to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
Offer and Distribution Restrictions
Italy
None of the Offers, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other document or materials relating to the Offers has been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (“CONSOB”) pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Offers are being carried out in the Republic of Italy (“Italy“) as an exempt offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended (the “Financial Services Act”) and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended. Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are resident or located in Italy can tender Notes for purchase in the Offers through authorised persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations and with any requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.
Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-à-vis its clients in connection with the Notes and/or the Offers.
United Kingdom
The communication of this announcement and the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers is not being made by and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an “authorised person” for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA 2000”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21(1) of the FSMA on the basis that it is only directed at and may only be communicated to: (1) persons who are outside of the United Kingdom; (2) investment professionals falling within the definition contained in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Financial Promotion Order”); (3) those persons who are existing members or creditors of the Company or other persons falling within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order; or (4) any other persons to whom such documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated in accordance with the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together referred to as “relevant persons”). This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers are only available to relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
France
The Offers are not being made, directly or indirectly, and neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other document or material relating to the Offers has been or shall be distributed, to the public in the Republic of France other than to qualified investors as defined in Article 2(e) of the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the “Prospectus Regulation”). Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other document or materials relating to the Offers have been or will be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers.
Belgium
Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other brochure, documents or materials relating to the Offers has been, or will be, submitted or notified to, or approved or recognized by, the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (“Autorité des services et marchés financiers”/”Autoriteit voor Financiële Diensten en Markten”). In Belgium, the Offers do not constitute a public offering within the meaning of Articles 3, §1, 1° and 6, §1 of the Belgian Law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids (“loi relative aux offres publiques d’acquisition”/”wet op de openbare overnamebiedingen”), as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Offers may not be, and is not being advertised, and this announcement, the Offer to Purchase, as well as any brochure, or any other material or document relating thereto (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar document) may not, has not and will not be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person located and/or resident within Belgium, other than to “qualified investors” (“investisseurs qualifiés”/”qekwalificeerde belegge”), within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation acting on their own account. Insofar as Belgium is concerned, the Offers are made only to qualified investors, as this term is defined above. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or in any brochure or any other document or material relating thereto may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed or distributed to any other person in Belgium.
General
This announcement does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes (and tenders of Notes in the Offers will not be accepted from Holders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation or acceptance is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and any Dealer Manager or any of the Dealer Managers’ affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or such Dealer Manager’s affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Company in such jurisdiction.
Each tendering Holder participating in the Offers will be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in the section titled “Description of the Offers—Procedures for Tendering Notes—Other Matters” in the Offer to Purchase. Any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offers from a Holder that is unable to make these representations will not be accepted. Each of the Company, the Dealer Managers and the Tender and Information Agent reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to the Offers, whether any such representation given by a Holder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Company determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such tender shall not be accepted.
Forward-Looking Information
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements which reflect the Company’s intent, beliefs or current expectations about the future and can be recognised by the use of words such as “expects,” “will,” “anticipate,” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of any future performance and are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the senior management of the Company and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward-looking statements should be considered in light of various important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in the Offer to Purchase. The Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realised, although it believes it has been prudent in its plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Vodafone Group Plc
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Technology
Aquiline Drones Debuts First Anti-Graffiti Drone in Nationwide Campaign
Published
10 hours agoon
February 15, 2025By

Aquiline Drones Embarks on Nationwide Campaign – Using Disruptive Technologies: Drones and AI cameras to Fight Unsightly Graffiti.
HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Aquiline Drones Embarks on Nationwide Campaign – Using Disruptive Technologies: Drones and AI cameras to Fight Unsightly Graffiti.
Unsightly graffiti is a menace to communities and metropolises, worldwide! More than just a nuisance, graffiti is a form of vandalism, making it a crime that devalues property and consumes valuable police time and other public resources.
Moreover, graffiti negatively affects communities by creating a perception of neglect or disorder, lowering property values, deterring businesses, and contributing to feelings of insecurity among residents, especially if associated with gang activity or offensive content.
Globally, cities like Sydney invest in anti-graffiti technologies such as surveillance cameras and protective coatings on walls, to prevent graffiti before it happens. Clearly however, these efforts, while seemingly progressive, prove inadequate by only scratching the surface. As is the case with graffiti tagging, the problem recurs – even increasing and likely fostering retaliation by taggers.
Thankfully, a more complete solution has emerged. An absolute game-changer in the fight against graffiti by taking it one step farther and aiming to largely eradicate it. This timely solution blends key technologies – smart cameras, artificial intelligence (AI) and graffiti drones…yes, drones, ready to get the job done once and for all!
CT-based Aquiline Drones (AD) – a drone technology enterprise, has debuted the only proven solution available today. that is a complete and highly effective technology solution that can reduce the recurrence of graffiti by a factor of 10, especially in harder-to-reach areas.
Having successfully incubated this solution aided by prime customer, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), AD now embarks on a nationwide campaign targeting States, and their municipalities and regions to significantly reduce the occurrence of this problem.
“If technology benefits society, I say let it. And let’s be deliberate about success while we’re at it!” says Barry Alexander, Founder and CEO of Aquiline Drones. “Time to make America clean again” Alexander continues.
Currently, graffiti-based vandalism is on a sharp increase in America – globally too, costing an estimated $12 billion (in the US alone) in annual cleanup expenses! Even worse is that this expense is incurred by public entities and thus, taxpayers. In most cases, residents also incur costs to remove graffiti from their private property.
Disruptive Technology that Works – AD’s Graffiti Abatement (GA) solution
AD’s GA solution is results-oriented. Its primary goal is to significantly reduce graffiti tagging incidences nationwide by a factor of 10. As an example, in Seattle, Washington, a city of approximately 755,000 residents, city agencies removed 5,000 graffiti tags in 2019 and 8,700 in 2021. In 2023, KIRO-TV reported that there were around 20,000 graffiti reports in 2021 – a sharp and uncontrollable increase!
Using the city of Seattle again as an example, the city’s Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance requires property owners to remove graffiti within 10 days of receiving a notice. If graffiti is gang or hate related, it must be removed within 48 hours. Property owners who don’t remove graffiti within the 10-day window may face fines of up to $5,000.
Applying AD’s turnkey GA solution to the city of Seattle and its stats, would probably realize a reduction in the number of graffiti tags from 20,000 (in 2023) to 2,000 while remaining sensitive to societal expression through acceptable forms of street art. Contextually, while Seattle has an ordinance against graffiti tagging, the city does recognize the value of street art and has commissioned murals from local artist.
AD’s solution starts with surveillance. Single or multiple sites can be monitored simultaneously, equipped with security cameras. AD’s cameras are solar powered, cloud connected via LTE and have night vision IR (infrared), with its live feed stored both locally and on AD’s proprietary cloud and backed up on Amazon Web Services (AWS). AD’s AI framework accesses these camera feeds and uses Machine Vision to analyze the data to detect any human object(s) in the vicinity of the monitored sites. This refined model uses AI detection to identify specific acts such as graffiti painting, other illegal acts, loitering, etc. The camera data is then analyzed and persons detected in the vicinity triggers email notifications to email addresses supplied by the Department of Transportation (DoT) and sent to Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) and law enforcement. Analyzed data is stored and made available to the client(s). Data transmission and storage occurs within the US, on local servers.
AD’s framework utilizes domestic LTE carriers along with AWS (Amazon’s cloud) as backup to the AD Cloud, which provides the highest levels of data security.
AD’s GA solution is broken down into two distinctive phases: 1) Surveillance/monitoring, analytics, and push notification; and 2) Graffiti abatement using AD’s Spartacus Endure drones.
For surveillance, AD uses AI enabled smart cameras to provide real time monitoring while computing on the edge, to detect occurrences of graffiti and vandalism. For suspected incidents, AD uses highly accurate computer vision and machine learning on the AD Cloud to further eliminate false positives. This process is highly autonomous and strongly protective of all personally identifiable information (PII) from the processed data.
Graffiti Abatement (GA). At center stage of the solution is AD’s anti-graffiti drone – the Spartacus Endure, Power-Washing, Painting & Graffiti drone, which is the most versatile in its class. The Endure is the only drone on the market capable of performing multiple challenging tasks using the same drone by simply swapping out its payload (its undercarriage).
Customers can choose from an assortment of payloads: spray bars, straight lances, carrying baskets, winches, cameras/sensors, seed spreaders/hoppers, ag spraying tanks and bars, droppers (used for lifeguard pontoon drops), etc. to have an absolute workhorse like no other!
“Think of the Endure as your trusted John Deere tractor. Change out the bucket and off you go.” Alexander continues.
The versatility of AD’s Spartacus Endure drone is what makes it unique. It’s literally unmatched, giving users’ ultimate freedom and flexibility. This versatility is highly-beneficial to those customers already owning an Endure drone, for example, increasing its utility by targeting seasonal work.
Existing Endure owners or prospective customers wanting to start their own power-washing or painting and graffiti-removal business now have the right tool to target these never-ending graffiti removal contracting opportunities. On the public sector (municipalities) side of things, customers can perform different tasks within their jurisdiction, using the same drone.
Imagine municipalities across its many regions using the same drone or a fleet of drones simultaneously, to target multiple sites for graffiti removal and then switch out payloads if desired, in three minutes or less to go power-wash overhead retro reflective highway signage, or to go de-ice electrical pylons, etc. The list goes on, and on!
In his final report, Mike Gauger, Maintenance Superintendent at WASDOT and program visionary adds “The drone program provides a very effective additional tool for graffiti removal in locations where it can mitigate the risk of employee injury due to the graffiti’s precarious locations. It also provides a more cost-effective way to handle graffiti removal from all locations where specialized equipment is required”
Mike concludes by saying “The use of drones to remove graffiti in dangerous and difficult locations is also a better use of resources. It takes less time to remove the graffiti with a drone compared to traditional methods, which deters “retagging.” His story is shared in this short, but one of many, YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVbHRiLVveE
AD provides the entire solution and gives customers the option to pick from an a-la-carte menu:
Drones and associated hardware (built in-house – made in America, Hartford CT.)
Surveillance cameras/hardware (vendor supplied). Back-end digital dashboard, AI analytics, push notifications, etc. (all done by AD)
Training (online, in-house and onsite option). Online training: AD’s proprietary online prep course (Flight to the Future or F2F). Watch YouTube video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgd0zD-mcw4&t=17s
With one simple way to get started – via phone call or email:
Email: Info@aquilinedrones.com
Phone: (860) 361-7958
ABOUT AQUILINE DRONES:
Aquiline Drones Corporation (AD) is an all-American drone technology company specializing in drone manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and superior drone pilot training. AD is also self-insured through Aquiline Drones Indemnity Corporation (ADIC). AD’s core management comprises highly experienced aviators, systems engineers, IT gurus, military personnel (including veterans), and business strategists. AD delivers a vertically integrated blend of products and services. AD’s full spectrum of technological solutions is widely applicable across countless industries and environments for superior, real-time data processing and insights. Visit www.AquilineDrones.com for more information.
Media Contact
Barry Alexander, Aquiline Drones Corporation, 1 860-361-7958, info@aquilinedrones.com, https://aquilinedrones.com/
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SOURCE Aquiline Drones Corporation
Technology
FAU Joins the Nation’s Most Elite Research Universities and Colleges
Published
11 hours agoon
February 15, 2025By

Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education Designates FAU as ‘R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production’
BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Florida Atlantic University has officially established itself among the most prestigious colleges and universities in the United States for its notable accomplishments in research. It now holds the esteemed designation of “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, and shares this status with less than 5% of the nearly 4,000 universities in the U.S.
“The R1 designation is a highly coveted achievement in the collegiate world, symbolizing the pinnacle of research excellence,” said FAU President Stacy Volnick. “This designation is more than just a title; it serves as a powerful catalyst for transformation, opening doors to major donors and research grants that will elevate our institution’s capabilities and reach.”
In the competitive landscape of higher education, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education plays a pivotal role in determining a university’s standing. To qualify for the R1 status, institutions must meet a stringent set of criteria such as the number of research doctorates awarded and total research expenditures. FAU is now the sixth institution in the Florida State University System to hold R1 status.
“Since its inception, the university’s efforts have been propelled by the tremendous support of our federal congressional delegation and the state’s steadfast commitment to advancing academic research that is crucial to the United States’ safety, security and global competitiveness,” Volnick said.
FAU faculty members drive the university’s rapidly expanding external funding portfolio through their scholarly work, including externally funded research projects, peer-reviewed publications, and initiatives in indexing and polling. In fiscal year 2023-24, FAU received 408 awards and garnered approximately $109 million in research expenditures. Among its most notable awards last year, was a $10 million grant awarded to FAU’s College of Education and College of Engineering and Computer Science from the U.S. Department of Education to train people with disabilities for high-tech jobs.
The prestige associated with R1 status acts like a magnet, drawing in world-class faculty and top-tier students eager to be part of an elite academic community. This influx of talent enhances the university’s academic landscape and boosts its national prestige.
“Ultimately, the R1 designation empowers Florida Atlantic to address pressing societal issues head-on, contributing to advances in health, technology and policy,” said Gregg Fields, Ph.D., FAU vice president for research. “This alignment with societal needs enhances the university’s mission and reinforces its commitment to making a meaningful impact on the world. In this way, the R1 status is beyond an accolade; it’s a vital tool for driving progress.”
FAU is a trailblazer in research, pioneering high-resolution imaging and innovative underwater technologies, including submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. In 1965, it launched the nation’s first undergraduate ocean engineering program, now a State University Program of Distinction. FAU also drives innovation in national security, cybersecurity and biomedical research, making breakthroughs in neuroscience, cardiovascular health and cancer. Its environmental research tackles renewable energy, water quality, sustainability and habitat conservation. Beyond the natural sciences, FAU excels in social sciences, education, arts, literature, history and political science, fostering interdisciplinary connections between culture and society.
FAU’s robust graduate programs also play a crucial role in supporting the research enterprise, cultivating a skilled workforce and nurturing the next generation of researchers. Students benefit from unique research opportunities and internships, immersing themselves in a rich academic environment that encourages exploration and discovery. Research laboratories benefit from talented graduate student assistance in the discovery process.
Looking toward the future, FAU is focused on expanding its graduate programs in key areas such as biotechnology, AI, cybersecurity and marine sciences. The university is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that students and faculty members work across departments to drive innovation. To support this growth, FAU plans to enhance its research infrastructure, investing in state-of-the-art laboratories, specialized centers and advanced technology to facilitate leading-edge research in various fields such as life sciences, engineering and smart health.
Collaboration will remain a cornerstone of FAU’s development, with established partnerships like those with the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Memorial Healthcare, Florida Power & Light and many others — and is expected to grow even stronger. The university also is committed to expanding its global reach, building international research partnerships and providing students with opportunities for global engagement.
“At Florida Atlantic, we are not just building a university — we are shaping a future where discovery knows no boundaries, collaboration drives innovation, and education transforms lives,” Fields said. “The challenges we face today demand bold solutions, and Florida Atlantic is prepared to lead the way.”
About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, Florida Atlantic serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the Southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, Florida Atlantic embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. Florida Atlantic is designated as a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report, and holds the designation of “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Florida Atlantic shares this status with less than 5% of the nearly 4,000 universities in the United States. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
Media Contacts: Gisele Galoustian
Senior Media Relations Director, Research and Health
ggaloust@fau.edu
Mobile: 561-985-4615
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fau-joins-the-nations-most-elite-research-universities-and-colleges-302376672.html
SOURCE Florida Atlantic University
Technology
Sigenergy Tackles Africa’s Energy Challenges with Next-Gen Storage Solutions and Real-World Case Studies
Published
12 hours agoon
February 15, 2025By

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sigenergy, a leading energy innovator, hosted an exclusive event on February 14 in Johannesburg to highlight its groundbreaking commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage solutions. The event featured a real-world case study that showcased the impact of Sigenergy’s products in addressing energy challenges in the region. With over 350 industry leaders, distributors, and installers from across Africa in attendance, the event facilitated thought-provoking discussions among professionals on the growing importance of energy storage in shaping the continent’s future.
Driving Rapid Growth and Global Market Leadership
Sigenergy’s rapid expansion in energy storage was highlighted by Samuel Zhang, President and CTO of Sigenergy, in his opening speech. Zhang specifically acknowledged the crucial support from Herholdt’s Group, South Africa’s largest distributor. “In just one year, Sigenergy has become the fastest-growing inverter company in history. With the backing of our global network of partners, we’ve become the preferred choice for top distributors in markets such as the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, Australia, and the U.S.,” Zhang stated.
In South Africa alone, Sigenergy achieved nearly 100 MWh in order volume within just seven months, capturing close to 10% of the market share. Globally, the company’s SigenStor system has received high satisfaction ratings, with approximately 90% of homeowners and installers expressing their approval in a 2024 global customer survey.
Addressing Load-Shedding with 0ms Switching
A key highlight of the event was the on-site demonstration of Sigenergy’s SigenStor energy storage solution at South Ocean Electric Wire, a cable manufacturer based in Alberton, South Africa. The company had faced frequent load-shedding, which not only disrupted production but also caused significant financial losses. Relying on costly and environmentally harmful diesel generators had become unsustainable. However, after installing 96 SigenStor units, providing a total of 4.1 MWh of capacity, the factory is now able to operate without interruption.
Sigenergy also enabled a seamless transition from grid to off-grid power with 0ms switching. The system includes Sigenergy’s Energy Gateway C1200, which delivers 1200 kW of power and ensures up to five hours of backup during load-shedding events. As the only company in Africa able to offer such large-scale gateways, Sigenergy can also customize even larger gateways to meet the diverse needs of clients, all with incredibly fast response times.
Innovating for the Future: New Solutions
During the event, Sigenergy unveiled several cutting-edge products that underscore its commitment to continuous innovation. The SigenStack, in particular, stood out as a premier energy storage solution for large-scale C&I and utility applications. Featuring a modular architecture and hybrid inverter, SigenStack delivers between 50 kW and 125 kW of power, with a scalable design that supports up to 100 units in parallel, achieving capacities of several hundred megawatts. This adaptability makes it ideal for even the most complex energy projects.
Additionally, Sigenergy introduced the Sigen Hybrid 2nd Generation and Sigen Gateway HomePro SP/TP. Alongside its hardware advancements, Sigenergy continues to prioritize software development, with the mySigen App offering an industry-leading energy management experience. Regular updates every 3-4 weeks ensure the app remains at the forefront, delivering a smarter, more intuitive experience for installers and end-users alike.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sigenergy-tackles-africas-energy-challenges-with-next-gen-storage-solutions-and-real-world-case-studies-302377550.html

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